• Teachers and education experts
• Obstetricians/ gynaecologists
• Surgeons and anaesthetists
• Physicians and paediatricians
• A psychiatrist and a counselor
• A speech therapist, nurse, radiographer, laboratory expert
• Medical students
• An epidemiologist and an accountant
We also get overseas visitors who come for a few days, most commonly from LAMB support groups. For them, it is a chance to see the realities of the area where we work, and to see for themselves what LAMB does so that they can tell people back home.
All these exposures to the wider world are invaluable for what is done by LAMB. It helps to keep us all – Bangladeshi and expatriate – aware of current standards and practices internationally. Although we do not have the facilities or the funds to have the most advanced equipment, and our priorities are in any case different, nevertheless there are still many things that help us to improve and develop.
Having visitors from outside sometimes also helps to remind those every day working here of the many positives that happen. It is very easy to get lost in the practicalities and problems of day to day work, and not see the eventual end results on peoples’ lives.
Like most hospitals, we do not have the resources to follow up on what happens to the majority of patients when they leave the hospital after treatment. In the community also, we see the statistics about lower rates of mothers being lost in childbirth, and lower rates of child deaths. But it takes time to see the human meaning of these.
Some of what is seen is unhappiness and sorrow. It is very hard for the hospital staff who see so many cases come to the hospital far too late – whether because of lack of understanding, trying alternative treatment first, fear of costs because the family has no funds, difficulties of transport, or simply other priorities. It is hard seeing young girls and women coming in damaged by abortions; to see children and adults come with disabilities which could easily have been overcome if treated earlier. It is frustrating when family members will not allow life-saving treatment, or, through fear or whatever reason, will not help by donating blood.
But there are many, many cases which show what can be done with a little. Imagine the relief for a family where the father has two club feet, and his son was born the same, but with paid-for low cost treatment at LAMB now has two normal angle feet. He will wear braces at night for a while yet, but that is a small thing in his total life. Imagine the delight for a young mother who could go home after 2 months treatment paid for by a church for serious burns. (Burns happen often here because of open fires and saris). Both of these cases had very supportive families, and for the staff at LAMB it was one of those real pleasures.
Imagine the difference living in villages on river islands where there is no access to healthcare. And then someone on the island is trained enough to help organise basic health care, and with a mobile phone can consult on matters which look more important. Imagine the pleasure for a little boy whose muscles are wasting, but almost every day for weeks was carried around the LAMB compound by one of the visitors from overseas.
When we stand back and look at what is being done, with not so much considering the number of people affected, then those who visit and see, and help, and point out the good things being done, are great motivation for the staff here.
These things are far from being LAMB doing things on its own. We are just God’s pair of hands. Without people and organizations who fund the work, we could not do it. But, when we look we are able to see the changes in people’s lives – and not just the patients.
